“We have seen the last of it (fuel scarcity)”. These were the words of the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, on Monday, January 8, 2017.
Few days later, long queues resurfaced (if they ever disappeared) in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and other parts of the country.

Despite being Africa’s largest exporter of crude, Nigeria has continued to suffer petrol scarcity leading to the waste of precious man-hour.

Fuel scarcity has become the Federal government’s Christmas gift to Nigerians.

December 2017 was not an exception.

Why fuel scarcity?
Senate President Bukola Saraki had mandated the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to suspend recess to investigate the fuel crisis and come up with solutions to the matter.

The Kabiru Marafa-led committee issued invitations to the minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu; NNPC boss, Baru; and other relevant stakeholders.

play
Ibe Kachikwu and Maikanti Baru (GMD NNPC)

(DailyTrust)

The Minister of Petroleum, President Muhammadu Buhari was, however, not invited by the committee.

Speaking at the Senate joint committee investigating the fuel scarcity on January 4, 2017, Baru told Nigerians that the “fuel scarcity was caused by speculations of a hike in the price of petrol by in the media.”

“Due to the speculations in the media, Nigerians resulted in panic buying while the marketers deliberately refused to import petrol, leaving NNPC with the responsibility of doing so,” he added.

He also blamed the scarcity on activities of those he called “a few bad eggs in the petroleum indudtry.”

play
Nigerians buying black market fuel

(Pulse )

“We have of recent experienced a few challenges with the supply of petroleum products,” Baru began.

“Unfortunately, our downstream counterparts have been very unpatriotic in creating the problem. I am happy that now, this problem is being dealt with and the problem of noncompliance have also been tackled.

“It was most unfortunate that our industry, due to the behavior of a few bad eggs, made last year Christmas celebration a pain to lots of those who celebrated.

“NNPC is ever determined to ensure that we do not experience this again.

“Definitely, we have seen the last of it (fuel scarcity),” Baru declared.

play
NNPC GMD, Maikanti Baru says Nigeria has seen the last days of fuel scarcity but the queues keep getting longer

(Twitter/NNPC)

Queues return to Abuja
Pulse checks within Abuja reveals that the queues are back and getting longer.

At the NNPC filling station along Kubwa expressway, our correspondent noticed a long queue of vehicles patiently waiting to buy the product.

“We have crude oil in this country but why can’t the federal government repair our refineries? I have been here since morning, this is 1pm. How much will I make today? I have a wife and two children, school has resumed. This thing is so bad,” Francis said, angrily.

play
Fuel queues are back and longer

(Guardian)

FG ‘still paying’ subsidy
Kachikwu had told lawmakers that the landing cost of petrol was between N170 – N171 per liter. With petrol currently being sold at N145, there is a deficit of N25 – N26.

Kachikwu noted that the over N900 million is lost daily as a result of the current price regime of N145/liter.

Baru gives further explanation as to whether the government was still subsidising petroleum products.

“Do you want me to remove subsidy?, the NNPC GMD asked State House correspondents at the Villa on Friday, December 29, 2017.

He goes on further: “What I am saying is that the landing cost as should be sold in the pump without under-recovery should be N171.40, however Mr. President has directed that we should maintain all the parameters to ensure that it is sold at N145 per liter.

“And that is why we are selling at depot at N133.28.”

This is even as the Senate denied rece

“We have seen the last of it (fuel scarcity)”. These were the words of the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, on Monday, January 8, 2017.
Few days later, long queues resurfaced (if they ever disappeared) in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and other parts of the country.

Despite being Africa’s largest exporter of crude, Nigeria has continued to suffer petrol scarcity leading to the waste of precious man-hour.

Fuel scarcity has become the Federal government’s Christmas gift to Nigerians.

December 2017 was not an exception.

Why fuel scarcity?
Senate President Bukola Saraki had mandated the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to suspend recess to investigate the fuel crisis and come up with solutions to the matter.

The Kabiru Marafa-led committee issued invitations to the minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu; NNPC boss, Baru; and other relevant stakeholders.

play
Ibe Kachikwu and Maikanti Baru (GMD NNPC)

(DailyTrust)

The Minister of Petroleum, President Muhammadu Buhari was, however, not invited by the committee.

Speaking at the Senate joint committee investigating the fuel scarcity on January 4, 2017, Baru told Nigerians that the “fuel scarcity was caused by speculations of a hike in the price of petrol by in the media.”

“Due to the speculations in the media, Nigerians resulted in panic buying while the marketers deliberately refused to import petrol, leaving NNPC with the responsibility of doing so,” he added.

He also blamed the scarcity on activities of those he called “a few bad eggs in the petroleum indudtry.”

play
Nigerians buying black market fuel

(Pulse )

“We have of recent experienced a few challenges with the supply of petroleum products,” Baru began.

“Unfortunately, our downstream counterparts have been very unpatriotic in creating the problem. I am happy that now, this problem is being dealt with and the problem of noncompliance have also been tackled.

“It was most unfortunate that our industry, due to the behavior of a few bad eggs, made last year Christmas celebration a pain to lots of those who celebrated.

“NNPC is ever determined to ensure that we do not experience this again.

“Definitely, we have seen the last of it (fuel scarcity),” Baru declared.

play
NNPC GMD, Maikanti Baru says Nigeria has seen the last days of fuel scarcity but the queues keep getting longer
U
(Twitter/NNPC)

Queues return to Abuja
Pulse checks within Abuja reveals that the queues are back and getting longer.

At the NNPC filling station along Kubwa expressway, our correspondent noticed a long queue of vehicles patiently waiting to buy the product.

“We have crude oil in this country but why can’t the federal government repair our refineries? I have been here since morning, this is 1pm. How much will I make today? I have a wife and two children, school has resumed. This thing is so bad,” Francis said, angrily.

Fuel queues are back and longer

(Guardian)

FG ‘still paying’ subsidy
Kachikwu had told lawmakers that the landing cost of petrol was between N170 – N171 per liter. With petrol currently being sold at N145, there is a deficit of N25 – N26.

Kachikwu noted that the over N900 million is lost daily as a result of the current price regime of N145/liter.

Baru gives further explanation as to whether the government was still subsidising petroleum products.

“Do you want me to remove subsidy?, the NNPC GMD asked State House correspondents at the Villa on Friday, December 29, 2017.

He goes on further: “What I am saying is that the landing cost as should be sold in the pump without under-recovery should be N171.40, however Mr. President has directed that we should maintain all the parameters to ensure that it is sold at N145 per liter.

“And that is why we are selling at depot at N133.28.”

This is even as the Senate denied receiving any request from the executive in this regard

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